Hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski will get a final tuneup for the playoff-bound Milwaukee Brewers when they wrap up the regular season Sunday against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.
Misiorowski (15-5, 1.86 ERA), the favorite for the National League Cy Young Award, will be opposed by fellow right-hander Andre Pallante (12-8, 3.61). Misiorowski is expected to be on a limited pitch count for the second consecutive start.
The Brewers (102-59) rallied to a 3-2 win over the Cardinals (77-84) on Saturday behind Brice Turang’s two-run homer in the fifth inning.
After starter Dustin May allowed two runs in three innings in a limited outing, the Milwaukee bullpen preserved the lead with six hitless innings.
Milwaukee, which has won four consecutive NL Central division titles, has earned a first-round bye and clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The Brewers, a franchise-record 43 games over .500, have won 12 straight series at home and are 21-4-1 in home series this season.
Milwaukee also had the best overall record in the majors last season before ultimately being swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
The Brewers, who have had a winning record each month this season, improved to 17-6 in September.
“We were 13-13 last year in September,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after Saturday’s game. “I felt like we were talking about not coasting, but what you talk about doesn’t matter, it’s what you do. I felt like we were beaten up a little, coasting, feeling sorry, or whatever. This team likes winning, likes achieving.”
Misiorowski, whose 1.86 ERA is lowest in the majors, leads the NL with 247 strikeouts, and is just one behind AL leader Gavin Williams of Cleveland.
Opponents are batting just .159 against the 24-year-old Misiorowski.
Misiorowski was limited to three innings in his last start, allowing just one hit, striking out four and walking none in a 44-pitch outing in a 3-0 win at Baltimore.
Misiorowski is 3-1 with a 3.25 ERA in five career starts against St. Louis, including 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 14 innings over two starts this season.
One of the bright spots down the stretch has been Alec Burleson, who put St. Louis ahead 2-0 on Saturday with his 26th homer and third in three games. He has a majors-best 116 RBIs.
“What Burley continues to do is pretty special to watch,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “It takes a lot to be as locked in for this long, and he’s had a special season.”
Pallante has not won in six starts since his last victory against the New York Mets on Aug. 5. He is 0-2 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts in September, striking out nine and walking eight in 21 innings.
Pallante was saddled with the loss in his last start, despite allowing just one run on three hits in six innings in a 2-0 setback at Pittsburgh.
Pallante is 0-4 with a 6.07 ERA in 17 career games against Milwaukee, including five starts. He is 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in two starts vs. the Brewers this season, allowing 11 runs in 11 innings.
–Field Level Media
